Door handle mounting



July 11, 1950 G. V. JAKEWAY DOOR HANDLE MOUNTING Filed Dec. 2, 1948 1 INVENTOR- e/v/a c/a/faz/ay Q M/ fi l away Patented July 11, 1950 noon HANDLE MOUNTING Gerald V. Jakeway, Grand Rapids, Mich., as-

signor to Keeler Brass Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application December 2, 1948, Serial No. 63,009

11 Claims. (Cl. 292-348) This invention relates to improvements in door handle mounting.

The main objects of the invention are:

First, to provide a handle for motor vehicle doors, refrigerator doors and the like in which an outward pull on the handle serves to release the latch or bolt.

Second, to provide a handle assembly in which the parts may be economically produced and assembled and at the same time a structure which is highly attractive in appearance.

Third, to provide a handle assembly which can be quickly and securely mounted on a door, the mounting means being concealed and inaccessible when the door is closed.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention Will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the handle embodying my invention mounted upon a door a fragment of which is shown in section, the supporting plate mounted within the wall panel of the door being also shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in section on a line corresponding to line 2--2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary inverted view of the handle assembly of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in transverse section on line 4-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the supporting plate illustrating details thereof.

In the accompanying drawing l represents the door of an automobile having a chamber therein and an outer panel 2. A latch is conventionally shown at 3 and provided with a release member 4 having a foot portion 5. The details of the latch are not illustrated as they form no part of this invention. The supporting plate 6 which is formed as a stamping is mounted on the inner side of the door panel 2. This supporting plate is provided with a longitudinal slot 1 having an enlarged portion 8 at its rear end. The plate has angularly disposed or inclined portions providing inwardly inclined slot edge portions 9. The front end of the supporting plate has an outwardly projecting inclined arm III which is perforated to receive the screw H, the purpose of which will be later pointed out.

The escutcheon designated generally by the numeral I2 comprises the body member l3 formed as a stamping and the covering or shell l4 embracing the same and having inturned flanges 15 at its inner edges turned under the edges of the body member. The casing or shell and body member have registering openings receiving the inner end of the handle Hi. The shell has flanges turned inwardly at H around the edges of the opening in the body member.

The bracket member [8 is of outwardly facing U-shape. This bracket member is arranged through the slot in the supporting plate and has outturned flanges l9 on its arms which are disposed between the edges of the body member and the inturned flanges l5 of the shell or casing. The flanges l9 have lugs 20 struck up therefrom which are disposed within the inset portions 2| on the escutcheon body member as shown in the drawing.

The bracket member is provided with an inclined arm portion 22 the end of which is engaged by the flange on the escutcheon shell. The arm 22 is provided with a threaded opening 23 receiving the screw II. The bracket member has lugs 24 struck out from the sides or arms thereof and inclined to coact with the inclined edge portions of the supporting plate. In assembling, these lugs are passed through the enlarged portion 8 of the slot, the escutcheon assembly moved forwardly longitudinally of the plate and clamped and retained in position by the screw II. The jamb of the door has an opening 25 through which the screw may be inserted and manipulated. With this arrangement the escutcheon assembly is secured by a single concealed screw and this is inaccessible when the door is closed.

The handle pivot arm 26 is of channel section and is fixedly secured within the handle desirably by means of spot welds as indicated at 21. The handle pivot arm is arranged in an inwardly and rearwardly inclined relation and mounted by means of the pivot 28 between the rearwardly projecting arm portions of the bracket member. The pivot arm is provided with stops 29 at its inner end which coact with stops 3!! on the bracket member to limit the return or retracting movement of the handle. In the embodiment illustrated the pivotarm is notched at 3| to receive the edge 32 on the inner end of the handle.

The plunger-like latch actuating member 33 is in the form of a plunger or bolt and is provided with a head 34 at its outer end constituting a at ll.

The actuating member 33 is positioned to engage the foot piece of the latch release member 4. With this arrangement the escutcheon handle and actuating member are assembled as a com-- plete unit.

The supporting plate is mounted on the door desirably on the inner side of the door panel when the door is assembled, the plate being desirably secured by spot welding as indicated With the plate thus mounted the handle assembly may be quickly mounted by passing the escutcheon bracket through the opening in the panel and the supporting plate and shifting the unit longitudinally bringing the lugs 24 into wedging engagement with the supporting plate. The flnal wedging engagement and securing is efl'ected through the screw l I.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain modifications and adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. A door handle comprising in combination a longitudinally slotted supporting plate adapted for supporting engagement with a wall at its rear end and having an angularly disposed arm at its front end, the slot having an enlargement at its rear end and the edges of the slot having inwardly inclined portions adjacent said such enlargement, an escutcheon comprising a body member, and a casing arranged thereover and having inturned flanges on its sides and front end, an outwardly facing U-shaped bracket member disposed through said plate and having outturned side flanges on its arms and a forwardly projecting arm at its front end, said side flanges and the end of said arm being disposed between the edges of said escutcheon body member and the inturned flanges of its said casing, said escutcheon body member having insets in the side thereof, said. bracket flanges having lugs engaged within said insets, said bracket also having lugs struck laterally from the sides thereof and coacting with the said inclined portions of said supporting plate, a screw carried by said arm on said supporting plate and having threaded engagement with said arm on said bracket member, a handle projecting into said escutcheon, an inwardly and rearwardly projecting pivot arm of inwardly facing channel section fixedly secured to the inner end of said, handle and pivotally mounted on said bracket between the arms thereof, said pivot arm being provided with stops at the inner ends of its arms, said bracket having inwardly directed stops adjacent its inner ends of its arms coacting with said stops on said pivot arm when the handle is in retracted position, a latch actuating plunger supported for reciprocation through the web of the bracket memher and having its outer end in thrust engageill ment with the web of the pivot arm and having a stud at its outer end, the web of the pivot arm having an opening therein receiving said stud, and a spring arranged on said actuating plunger with its outer end in thrust engagement therewith and its inner end supported by said bracket member.

2. A door handle comprising in combination a longitudinally slotted supporting plate, an escutcheon comprising a body member, and a casing arranged thereover and having inturned flanges on its sides and front end, an outwardly facing U-shaped bracket member disposed through said plate and having outturned side flanges on its arms and a forwardly projecting arm at its front end, said side flanges and the end of said arm being disposed between the edges of said escutcheon body member and the inturned flanges of its said casing, said escutcheon body member having insets in. the side thereof, said bracket flanges having lugs engaged within said insets, a handle projecting into said escutcheon, an inwardly and rearwardly projecting pivot arm of inwardly facing channel section fixedly secured to the inner end of said handle and pivotally mounted on said bracket between the arms thereof, said pivot arm being provided with stops at the inner ends of its arms, said bracket having inwardly directed stops adjacent its inner ends of its arms coacting with said stops on said pivot arm when the handle is in retracted position, a latch actuating plunger supported for reciprocation through the web of the bracket member and having its outer end in thrust engagement with the web of the pivot arm and having a stud at its outer end, the web of the pivot arm having an opening therein receiving said stud, and a spring arranged on said actuating plunger with its outer end in thrust engagement therewith and its inner end supported by said bracket member.

3. A door handle comprising in combination a longitudinally slotted supporting plate adapted for supporting engagement with a wall at its rear end and having an angularly disposed arm at its front end, the slot having an enlargement at its rear end and the side edges of the slot having inwardly inclined portions adjacent said such enlargement, an escutcheon comprising a body member, and a casing arranged thereover and having inturned flanges on its sides and front end, an outwardly facing U-shaped bracket member disposed through said plate and having outturned flanges disposed between the edges of said escutcheon body member and the inturned flanges of its said casing, said bracket also having lugs struck laterally from the sides thereof and coacting with the said inclined portions of said supporting plate, a screw carried by said arm on said supporting plate and having threaded engagement with said arm on said bracket member, a handle projecting into said escutcheon, an inwardly and rearwardly projecting pivot arm of inwardly facing channel section fixedly secured to the inner end of said handle and pivotally mounted on said bracket between the arms thereof, said pivot arm and bracket being provided with coacting stops, a latch actuating plunger supported for reciprocation through the web of the bracket member and having its outer end in thrust engagement with the web of thepivot arm, and a spring arranged on said actuating plunger with its outer end in thrust engagement therewith and its inner end supported by said bracket member.

4. A door handle comprising in combination a longitudinally slotted supporting plate adapted for supporting engagement with a wall at its rear end and having an angularly disposed arm at its front end, the slot having an enlargement at its rear end and the edges of the slot having inwardly inclined portions adjacent said such en-' largement, an escutcheon comprising a body member, and a casing arranged thereover and having inturned flanges on its sides and front end, an outwardly facing U-shaped bracket member having outturned side flanges on its arms and a forwardly projecting arm at its front end, said side flanges and the end of said arm being disposed between the edges of said escutcheon body member and the inturncd flanges of its said casing, said escutcheon body member having insets in the side thereof, said bracket flanges having lugs engaged within said insets, said bracket also having lugs struck laterally from the sides thereof and coacting with the said inclined portions of said supporting plate, a screw carried by said arm on said supporting plate and having threaded engagement with said arm on said bracket member, a handle associated with said escutcheon and having an inwardly projecting pivot arm pivoted to said bracket, said bracket and arm having coacting stops, a latch actuating member operatively associated with the handle in spaced relation to the pivot of its pivot arm,

and spring means acting to bias said latch actuating member and said handle to retracted position.

5. A door handle comprising in combination a longitudinally slotted supporting plate adapted for supporting engagement with a wall at its rear end and having an angularly disposed arm at its front end, the slot having an enlargement at its rear end and the edgesv of the slot having inwardly inclined portions" adjacent said such enlargement, an escutcheon comprising a body member, and a casing arranged thereover and having inturned flanges on its sides and front end, an outwardly facing U-shaped bracket member having outturned side flanges on its arms and a forwardly projecting arm at its front end, said side flanges and the end of said arm bein disposed between the edges of said escutcheon body member and the inturned flanges of its said casing, a screw carried by said arm on said supporting plate and having threaded engagement with said arm on said bracket member, a handle pivotally mounted on said bracket, a latch actuating member operatively associated with the handle in spaced relation to the pivot of its pivot arm, and spring means acting to bias said latch actuating member and said handle to retracted position.

6. A door handle comprising in combination a supporting plate, an escutcheon, an outwardly facing U-shaped bracket member disposed through said plate and having outturned flanges in retaining engagement with said escutcheon, a

handle associated with said escutcheon, an inwardly and rearwardly projecting pivot arm of inwardly facing channel section fixedly secured to the inner end of said handle and pivotally mounted on said bracket between the arms thereof, said pivot arm being provided with stops at the inner ends of its arms, said bracket having inwardly directed stops adjacent its inner ends of its arms coacting with said stops on said pivot arm when the handle is in retracted position, a latch actuating plunger supported for reciprocation through the web of the bracket member and having its outer end in thrust engagement with the web of the pivot arm and having a stud at its outer end, the web of the pivot arm having an opening therein receiving said stud,

'and a spring arranged on said actuating plunger with its outer end in thrust engagement therewith and its inner end supported by said bracket member.

7. A door handle assembly comprising a supporting plate having an opening therethrough, an escutcheon, a bracket member secured to said escutcheon and disposed through said supporting plate, a handle associated with said escutcheon, an inwardly and rearwardly projecting pivot arm of inwardly facing channel section fixedly secured to the inner end of said handle and pivotally mounted on said bracket, said pivot arm being provided with a stop at its inner end, said bracket having a stop adjacent its inner end coacting with said stop on said pivot arm when the handle is in retracted position, 'a latch actuating plunger supported for reciprocation through the web of the bracket member and having its outer end in thrust engagement with the web of the pivot arm and having a stud at its outer end, the web of the pivot arm having an opening therein receiving said stud, and a spring arranged on said actuating plunger with its outer end in thrust engagement therewith and its inner end slidably supported by said bracket member.

8. A door handle assembly comprising a supporting plate having an opening therethrough, an escutcheon, a bracket member secured to said escutcheon and disposed through said supporting plate, a handle associated with said escutcheon, an inwardly! and rearwardly projecting pivot arm fixedly secured to the inner end of said handle and pivotally mounted on said bracket, said pivot arm being provided with a stop at its inner end, said bracket having a stop adjacent its inner end coacting with said stop on said pivot arm when the handle is in retracted position, a latch actuating plunger supported for reciprocation through the web of the bracket member and having its outer end in thrust engagement with the pivot arm, and a spring arranged on said actuating plunger with its outer end in thrust engagement therewith and its inner end slidably supported by said bracket member.

9. A door handle comprising in combination a longitudinally slotted supporting plate, an escutcheon, an outwardly facing U-shaped bracket member disposed through said slot in said plate and having outturned flanges in retaining engagement with said escutcheon, a handle associated with said escutcheon, an inwardly and rearwardly projecting pivot arm of inwardly facing channel section fixedly secured to the inner end of said handle and pivotally mounted on said bracket between the arms thereof, said pivot arm and bracket being provided with coacting stops, a latch actuating plunger supported for reciprocation through the web of the bracket member with its outer end in thrust engagement with the web of the pivot arm, and a spring acting on said actuating plunger to bias it to retracted position and to bias the handle to retracted position.

10. A door handle comprising in combination a longitudinally slotted supporting plate having an enlargement, portions of the edges of the slot being inclined inwardly, an escutcheon, a U- supporting plate for longitudinally adjusting said bracket for bringing its said lugs in clamping engagement with said inclined portions of said supporting plate, a handle associated with said escutcheon, an inwardly projecting pivot arm pivotali; mounted on said bracket and having a stop at its inner end, said bracket having a coacting stop for limiting the retracting movement of the handle, a latch actuating plunger reciprocatingly supported by said bracket member and having thrust engagement with said pivot arm, and a spring acting on said actuating plunger to retract the same and bias the handle to retracted position.

11. A door handle comprising in combination a longitudinally slotted supporting plate having an enlargement, portions of the edges of the slot being inclined inwardly, an escutcheon, a U- shaped bracket member connected to said escutcheon and having lugs struck outwardly there- 20 from coacting with said inclined portions of said supporting plate, means carried by said supporting plate for longitudinally adjusting said bracket for bringing its said lugs in clamping engagement with said inclined portions of said supporting plate, a handle associated with said escutcheon and pivotally mounted on said bracket, a latch actuating member supported by said bracket member and with said handle to be actuated thereby, and spring means acting to retract said actuating member and bias the handle to retracted position.

' GERALD V. JAIQEWAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Joachim July 30, 1946 

